IPSWICH: A woman has admitted “brazenly” having a �112 haircut despite knowing she had no way of paying for it.

Natalie Hart, 22, underwent the hour-long treatment at the John Michael salon in Ipswich on June 4.

But when it came to settling the bill she first concocted a story before eventually telling the hairdresser she had no money at all.

South East Suffolk Magistrates’ Court heard that Hart, formerly of Maidstone Road in Felixstowe but now living in Macaulay Road in Ipswich, had her hair cut and highlights put in.

When it came to paying, she first gave a false name to the shop and told staff that a friend was outside with the money before she admitted she had no cash and threw a ring at the employee.

District Judge David Cooper was told that although she had provided a false name, the mobile phone number she had left was her own and she was tracked down by police.

Hart’s lawyer told the court that she had been living in Felixstowe at the time but had since tried to make a new start, moving to Ipswich and engaging with the Flagship scheme to improve her education and deal with her issues with alcohol.

Judge Cooper said her actions were “a bit dismal, really” and that Hart had made “pretty heavy weather” of the matter since her arrest.

He said: “It’s totally brazen.

“She must have been sitting there for an hour having all this treatment, knowing that she could not pay for it.

“It’s really dishonest.”

Hart, who pleaded guilty to a charge of fraud by false representation, was given a 12-month community order.

She was also ordered to carry out 40 hours’ unpaid work and will have the cost of the haircut directly deducted from her benefits.

She was warned she would be jailed if she failed to comply.